By Zephyria 
Han Seung-jae had forgotten the fact that Seo Yi-kyung was pregnant just yesterday. That was how blatantly his patience had hit rock bottom.
Until now, regardless of how he acted in front of others, Han Seung-jae had maintained a reasonable thread of rationality when speaking with Seo Yi-kyung. However, yesterday was to a degree that he couldn’t even justify to himself upon reflection.
The hand that had dragged Seo Yi-kyung out of the elevator was incredibly impulsive and rough. It wouldn’t have been difficult to pull Seo Yi-kyung out of the elevator without applying that much force.
Perhaps he could have even made him get off by simply talking to him, without using any force at all. But yesterday, rationality was nowhere to be found, no matter how hard he looked. Was it because Seo Yi-kyung’s words had exceeded the boundaries of what he had expected?
And every moment after laying Seo Yi-kyung on the bed—messily opening that soft body several times and thrusting into him with his DICK—was unlike him and excessively emotional.
…Han Seung-jae slowly placed the ring and bracelet he was holding next to the baby shoes. He closed the drawer of the nightstand and turned around. Han Seung-jae left the bedroom and entered the study.
As the door opened, Secretary Park, who was standing in front of the desk reviewing documents, looked back. Han Seung-jae walked over expressionlessly and sat down. Secretary Park habitually placed the verified contract down. Han Seung-jae mechanically took the documents and flipped through them.
Suddenly, Han Seung-jae’s gaze lingered on a landscape painting of fluttering cherry blossoms hanging on the wall. The landscape painting of a winter mountain that Seo Yi-kyung had shown him the previous day was noble. Looking at the painting itself, it was flawless. However, the reason it felt dissonant compared to this one was likely because the lines were too clear, distinct, and detailed.
Nevertheless, he wanted to grant whatever Seo Yi-kyung wanted. No, he intended to grant it regardless of what it was.
Yet, what Seo Yi-kyung uttered was something like wanting to leave this house. Because of that, memories Han Seung-jae had buried in a corner of his heart were brought back to the surface. There was a time when Seo Yi-kyung had been ill for a while after entering this house. Afterward, Seo Yi-kyung had said this to Han Seung-jae:
—I don’t like you, Seung-jae, so you don’t have to worry about me.
Moreover, that was long before Seo Yi-kyung became pregnant. And after the child was conceived, Han Seung-jae judged that Seo Yi-kyung had changed slightly from before. Had he not shown attachment to this house, spending longer hours in the painting studio and buying things for the baby?
He believed that, slowly but surely, Seo Yi-kyung was adapting to this place by his side. From choosing Butler Do as the person to assist him alongside Seo Yi-kyung and bringing him into the house, it was all because he wanted to make Seo Yi-kyung feel more comfortable in this home.
But had his true feelings remained unchanged? Were Seo Yi-kyung’s emotions from back then not much different from now?
“Those feelings.”
The hand of Secretary Park, who was checking the documents, stopped. He looked up. He turned his gaze to look at the landscape painting Han Seung-jae was staring at.
Han Seung-jae’s voice spread through the study like scattering petals.
“I guess they’re still the same.”
* * *
Step, step. Butler Do, who was standing in the living room, turned around at the sound of someone approaching. It was Min Ra-hyeon. He asked as he drew closer.
“Did you find Yi-kyung?”
Butler Do flinched reflexively. Despite having been contacted by Secretary Park, he had not told Min Ra-hyeon about this fact. Min Ra-hyeon walked forward with heavy steps and continued.
“I thought he’d be back soon after leaving like that this morning. Where is he, and when did you find out?”
“That is…”
Butler Do trailed off. However, Min Ra-hyeon pressed him, assuming that since Butler Do was no longer searching for Seo Yi-kyung, he must know where he was.
“Why did no one tell me?”
In the meantime, the elevator doors opened and Secretary Park stepped out. Butler Do glanced at him. He had been standing here waiting for him to descend, desperately wanting to ask if Seo Yi-kyung’s body was alright. However, it seemed the situation was not favorable right now.
“Don’t tell me you intentionally didn’t tell only me?”
“How could that be. I am truly sorry. I was flustered and failed to inform you.”
Secretary Park brushed past the two of them. Butler Do bowed his waist repeatedly toward Min Ra-hyeon. With Seo Yi-kyung not even in the house, if it became known that he had not followed Han Seung-jae’s orders, there would be no one to help him even if he were kicked out right now.
When Seo Yi-kyung returned here, wouldn’t he need someone to assist him? Therefore, Butler Do absolutely had to endure and stay here.
“I am truly sorry. I will be careful so that this never happens again.”
“I was worried the whole time, not knowing. So, where is Yi-kyung now?”
“He said he would stay at a friend’s house today.”
“A friend? Ah, that person he paints with?”
Then, Butler Do clenched his hands and looked up.
“The young master will return soon.”
It was as if he were telling Min Ra-hyeon to keep that in mind. That the mistress of this house was Seo Yi-kyung.
* * *
Late at night, Jin Seon-yu stepped up the stairs toward the upper floor.
Jin Tae-won and Jin Seok-young had just returned home a moment ago. As soon as he arrived, Jin Tae-won called Jin Seon-yu downstairs.
—Did you find the thing you took from Director Han’s house?
Jin Seon-yu stood behind Jin Tae-won, glanced at Jin Seok-young who was speaking with his eyes, and in response to Jin Tae-won’s question, pulled out the pocket watch necklace from his pocket and showed it.
—This was inside the art supply box. I only found it a moment ago. I’ll go in person tomorrow, apologize, and return it.
—How could you make such a mistake in a place like that?
—I know. I said I was sorry.
He had to listen to Jin Tae-won’s bitter nagging for a long time, along with warnings to be careful from now on. However, Jin Seon-yu didn’t mind. That was a common occurrence.
With Jin Seok-young’s help, Jin Seon-yu was able to successfully keep the fact that Seo Yi-kyung was in the house a secret.
However, Jin Seok-young, who grabbed Jin Seon-yu’s arm as he headed to his room and pulled him to the side of the stairs, warned him sternly.
—You must absolutely not get sick or injured in this house. Understand? Send him back as quickly as possible.
—Shh! Be quiet. What if Tae-won Hyung hears you?
Jin Seon-yu pushed Jin Seok-young away as if scolding him and returned to his room. As he opened the door, Seo Yi-kyung sat up from the bed.
“Why haven’t you changed into pajamas?”
Jin Seon-yu pointed to the pajamas laid out on the bed.
“These clothes are comfortable enough.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked as if he were ready to leave this house at any moment. Jin Seon-yu, who wasn’t unaware of those feelings, said:
“Don’t worry. Even Tae-won Hyung doesn’t come to my room. This is the first time I’ve slept with a friend since my school days.”
Jin Seon-yu seemed somewhat excited. Perhaps he was trying his best to change the mood because Seo Yi-kyung was so subdued.
“Are you really not going to change?”
Jin Seon-yu, who had changed into his pajamas alone, hopped up onto the bed. Seo Yi-kyung took a spot beside him. Jin Seon-yu, lying almost face-down on the pillow, turned only his head to look at Seo Yi-kyung sitting on the bed.
“You didn’t change your bandage. I’ll do it for you. Put your hand over here.”
Looking closely, the end was slightly unraveling. Despite this, Seo Yi-kyung lifted the blanket to hide his arm.
“No. I can do it tomorrow morning.”
Jin Seon-yu patted the space beside him, urging him to lie down.
“Then you’ll be very tired. Let’s just sleep.”
Seo Yi-kyung wasn’t alone in his body, after all. Jin Seon-yu wiggled and moved his body to create a bit of distance so that Seo Yi-kyung could lie down comfortably. He could have given him another room, but he felt that doing so would only increase the probability of Jin Tae-won finding out that Seo Yi-kyung was there, so he chose to sleep together.
Once Seo Yi-kyung settled in and lay down, the lights in the room were soon turned off, and it was dyed in darkness.
“…”
Unlike his exhausted and worn-out body, Seo Yi-kyung could not fall asleep. Moreover, perhaps because he had been exposed to the cold wind, he felt a slight fever on his forehead. However, he knew where that heat was coming from. As pain surged in his left wrist, Seo Yi-kyung held his breath and gripped his arm tightly.
Something was wrong with his wrist. He had been in pain before because a ligament had stretched slightly, but it had never been to this extent…
* * *
In the bluish dawn, Jin Seon-yu, lying face-down on the bed, fumbled around. A clicking sound came from his fingertips, and the lights in the room turned on instantly.
Jin Seon-yu lifted his heavy eyelids and looked beside him. The sound of Seo Yi-kyung’s breathing coming from next to him was unusual.
“Yi-kyung…”
Seo Yi-kyung was curled up, so his face wasn’t visible. Jin Seon-yu reached out and stroked Seo Yi-kyung’s back. The clothes touching his palm were drenched in sweat.
His sleep vanishing in an instant, Jin Seon-yu bolted upright and straightened Seo Yi-kyung’s upper body. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead as well. Seo Yi-kyung, who had been shrinking back for fear of waking the sleeping Jin Seon-yu, let out a small moan from the momentum.
Jin Seon-yu examined Seo Yi-kyung here and there, then looked at the swollen wrist he was clutching. He urgently and haphazardly unwound the bandage wrapped around Seo Yi-kyung’s wrist. And the slender hand revealed was covered in deep purple bruises from the back of the hand to the wrist and up the arm.
Jin Seon-yu cried out in shock.
“What happened to your arm?”